Mounting means for electrical switch boxes and the like



July 31, 1951 N. H. TRANAS Filed Feb. 2, 1949 7 9 v w; .J 0/: a m 2 w O 5 To 2 L "n m, ,6 e 7 r "a ow 0 Inventor Attorney Patented July 31, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENTITOFFIC-E' f MOUNTING MEANS FOR ELECTRICA SWITCH BOXES AND THE LIKE Nicolai H. Tranas, Laramie,Wyo.

Application February 2, 1949, Serial No. 74,221

The present invention relates to mounting means for electrical switch boxes and the like and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts herein described and claimed.

Generally the invention comprises an attachment for the conventional electrical switch box particularly adaptable for use in old wiring, that is to say the installation or addition of electrical outlets in a finished Wall or other surface. The invention comprises a, fixed serrated ear mounted at one end of the box and a like ear pivotally mounted at the other end of the box. The pivoted ear is composed of spring metal and is adapted to be held in locked position by means of a specially constructed lever.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a device of the character set forth which is simple in construction and operation and yet effective and efiicient in use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel latching means for an electrical outlet box.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a novel lever for motivating a gripping member forming a part of the invention.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following speciflcation taken in conjunction with the drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view thereof,

Figure 3 is a plan view of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2,

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the same,

Figure 5 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 1 but partly broken away and showing the device in unlatched position,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a movable latch member forming a part of the invention, and

Figure '7 is a perspective view of an operating lever forming a part of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is shown therein a conventionally shaped electrical outlet box l having a top wall II and a bottom wall I2. To the bottom wall l2 there is affixed by means of screws !3 or the like a plate M having serrations I protruding downwardly therefrom and said plate I4 is provided with an integrally formed downwardly extending portion i6 having a pair of openings l1 formed therein for the reception, if necessary, of screws l8.

4 Claims. (Cl.220-3.6)'

, The box If! is provided at its front with an integrally formed upper ear I9 and an integrally formed lower car 20. What may be termed a plaster ear is formed of a single piece of spring metal and consists of an outer portion 2| having upwardly extending serrations 22 and an integrally formed angularly extending inner portion 23. An opening 24 is provided centrally at the point of juncturebetween the portions 2| and 23. The ear I9 is adapted to pass through the opening in order that the plaster car may pivot upon the upper rear edge of the box It).

An actuating lever 25 is provided with a pair of dependant legs 26 which are pivoted to either side of the box It) upon the inside thereof by means of rivets 21 or the like. Extending upwardly and integrally formed with the lever 25 is a cross arm 28 having a pair of openings 29 for the reception of screws 30.

In operation, after a suitable opening has been cut in a wall for the reception of the outlet box In, the same is inserted into such opening with the lever 25 in unlocked position as is shown in Figure 5 in the drawing, after which the lever 25 is raised and forced into a vertical position whereupon the portion 23 will be forced upwardly thus causing the portion 2! of the plaster ear and its serrations 22 to engage the upper end of th wall opening and at the same time force the serrations l5 downwardly to engage the lower end of such wall opening. It will be seen that since the swiveled or pivoted plaster ear is of spring metal that the closing of the lever 25 will lock the box [0 in the wall opening under ordinary circumstances. However, if the box should remain loosely mounted after this operation, the screws l8 and 30 may be used to more securely fasten the box in the conventional wall opening.

While but one form of the invention has been shown and described herein, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many minor modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, an outlet box, a gripping member afiixed to the outer side of one end of said box, a spring metal gripping member pivotally mounted to swing outwardly from the other end of said box, an arm integrally formed with said spring member and extending angularly into the box and a lever adapted to bear against said arm whereby to move the spring metal gripping member outwardly from the box.

2. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, an outlet box, a gripping member afiixed to the outer side of one end of said box, a spring metal gripping member pivotally mounted to swing outwardly from the other end of said box, an arm integrally formed with said spring member and extending angularly into the box and a lever adapted to bear against said arm whereby to move the spring metal gripping member outwardly from the box, said gripping members each being provided with serrated faces.

3. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, an outlet box, a gripping member aflixed to the outer side of one end of said box, an outwardly and vertically extending ear integrally formed with said fixed gripping member and having screw openings formed therein, a spring metal gripping member pivotally mounted to swing outwardly from the other end of said box, an arm integrally formed with said spring member and extending angularly into the box and a lever adapted to bear against said arm whereby to move the said spring metal gripping member outwardly from the box.

4. A device of the character described com prising, in combination, an outlet box, a gripping member afixed to the outer side of one end of said box, a spring metal gripping member pivotally mounted to swing outwardly from the other end of said box, an arm integrally formed with said spring member and extending angularly into the box and a lever adapted to bear against said arm whereby to move the spring metal gripping member outwardly from the box, said gripping members each being provided with serrated faces, an outwardly and vertically extending ear integrally formed with said fixed gripping member and having screw openings formed therein and said lever having an ear outwardly extending therefrom and likewise provided with screw openmgs.

NICOLAI H. TRANAS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fde of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,793,187 Neall Feb. 17, 1931 2,031,861 Simek Feb. 25, 1936 2,126,259 Howells Aug. 9, 1938 2,305,015 Langer Dec. 15, 1942 2,309,189 Hancock et a1 Jan. 26, 1943 2,315,746 Stewart Apr. 6, 1943 2,371,210 Atkinson Mar. 13, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 668,724 France July 22, 1929 

